SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES AND OPTOELECTRONICS - 2020/1
Module code: EEE3041
In light of the Covid-19 pandemic, and in a departure from previous academic years and previously published information, the University has had to change the delivery (and in some cases the content) of its programmes, together with certain University services and facilities for the academic year 2020/21.
These changes include the implementation of a hybrid teaching approach during 2020/21. Detailed information on all changes is available at: https://www.surrey.ac.uk/coronavirus/course-changes. This webpage sets out information relating to general University changes, and will also direct you to consider additional specific information relating to your chosen programme.
Prior to registering online, you must read this general information and all relevant additional programme specific information. By completing online registration, you acknowledge that you have read such content, and accept all such changes.
Module Overview
Expected prior learning: Module EEE2042 – Electronic and Photonic Devices, or equivalent learning, is advisory but not required.
Module purpose: Semiconductor devices and optoelectronics play a major technology enabling amongst other things the internet. The course is given via a series of lectures and aims to give a background to the interaction of light with key photonic materials and devices.
Module provider
Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Module Leader
CAREY James (Elec Elec En)
Number of Credits: 15
ECTS Credits: 7.5
Framework: FHEQ Level 6
JACs code: H640
Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A
Module Availability
Semester 2
Prerequisites / Co-requisites
None.
Module content
Indicative content includes the following.
Part A: OPTICAL COMMUNICATIONS (15h)
[1-4] Light interaction with photonic materials, optical fibres & the basics of waveguiding
[5-6] Optical Sources and Detectors: Introduction to the engineering parameters of these devices to enable understanding of transmitters and receivers.
[7-8] Noise in Optical Systems: types of noise in optical systems and differences between electrical and optical systems.
[9-11] Intensity Modulation / Direct Detection – transmitters and receivers: the basics of system implementations, types of receivers, equivalent circuits, Signal to Noise Ratio in systems.
[12-14]Systems: Binary systems, optical power budgets, WDM, Fibre amplifiers, polarisation issues.
[15] Future systems – new and novel optical technologies
Part B: SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES (15h)
[1 -3] Revision of semiconductor physics
[4 - 7] Transistor operation, fabrication and modern architectures
[8 - 10] Low dimensional device physics and quantum engineering
[11 – 12] Fabrication of Low dimensional devices
[13 – 14] Heterojunction and quantum well lasers
[15] Revision
Assessment pattern
| Assessment type | Unit of assessment | Weighting |
|---|---|---|
| Examination | 2-HOUR, CLOSED-BOOK WRITTEN EXAMINATION | 100 |
Alternative Assessment
Not applicable: students failing a unit of assessment resit the assessment in its original format.
Assessment Strategy
The assessment strategy for this module is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate the following.
· The examination measures their level of understanding of the lectured material and their ability to apply it successfully to problems.
Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of the following.
· 2-hour, closed-book written examination.
Formative assessment and feedback
For the module, students will receive formative assessment/feedback in the following ways:
· Students are provided with exercise sheets and model solutions via the module's SurreyLearn site.
· Some timetabled lecture sessions are devoted to attempting these in a tutorial setting.
· Dedicated question-and-answer sessions occur in other lectures.
Module aims
- The module aims are as follows. Part A of the course is intended to provide students with an understanding of optical communications at an engineering level, in order that they are aware of the fundamental building blocks of an optical communications system, as well as some of the limitations. Part B of the course is complementary, describing more detailed descriptions of modern semiconductor devices both in terms of the physical operation as well as the geometry and construction of the devices.
Learning outcomes
| Attributes Developed | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Describe the interaction of light at optical interfaces and perform calculations relating to the reflectance and transmission of light. | KC |
| 2 | Apply the fundamentals of optical waveguiding in fibres and waveguides to obtain performance characteristics and discuss the origin and controlling of sources of loss. | KC |
| 3 | Understand the impact of engineering parameters on optical systems, such as the light source spectral width, detector sensitivity, and noise and obtain system performance figures of merit. | KC |
| 4 | Demonstrate a sound understanding of the background semiconductor physics of optoelectronic materials and semiconductor devices. | K |
| 5 | Describe the operation of semiconductor and optoelectronic devices and carry out calculations of the respective performance parameters. | K |
| 6 | Describe the techniques of MBE and MOCVD growth and their application to low dimensional semiconductor devices. | K |
Attributes Developed
C - Cognitive/analytical
K - Subject knowledge
T - Transferable skills
P - Professional/Practical skills
Overall student workload
Lecture Hours: 40
Methods of Teaching / Learning
The learning and teaching strategy is designed to enable students to achieve a working knowledge of state-of-the-art optoelectronic devices and of optical systems for application in industry or research.
Learning and teaching methods include the following.
- Lectures - 3 hours per week for 10 weeks
Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.
Reading list
https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: EEE3041
Programmes this module appears in
| Programme | Semester | Classification | Qualifying conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electronic Engineering BEng (Hons) | 2 | Optional | A weighted aggregate mark of 40% is required to pass the module |
| Electronic Engineering with Nanotechnology BEng (Hons) | 2 | Compulsory | A weighted aggregate mark of 40% is required to pass the module |
| Electronic Engineering with Nanotechnology MEng | 2 | Compulsory | A weighted aggregate mark of 40% is required to pass the module |
| Communication Systems BEng (Hons) | 2 | Optional | A weighted aggregate mark of 40% is required to pass the module |
| RF and Microwave Engineering MSc | 2 | Optional | A weighted aggregate mark of 40% is required to pass the module |
| Nanotechnology and Renewable Energy MSc | 2 | Optional | A weighted aggregate mark of 40% is required to pass the module |
| Electronic Engineering MSc | 2 | Optional | A weighted aggregate mark of 40% is required to pass the module |
| Communication Systems MEng | 2 | Optional | A weighted aggregate mark of 40% is required to pass the module |
| Electronic Engineering MEng | 2 | Optional | A weighted aggregate mark of 40% is required to pass the module |
| Electronic Engineering with Professional Postgraduate Year MSc | 2 | Optional | A weighted aggregate mark of 40% is required to pass the module |
Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2020/1 academic year.